High-profile booster

Austin startup courts Texas billionaire and Shark Tank star as new spokesperson

The shark and Mavericks owner goes Zen.

Austin-based ZenBusiness, whose software-powered platform helps entrepreneurs start, run, and grow their businesses, has added some star power to its marketing efforts.

Entrepreneur and investor Dallas billionaire Mark Cuban, owner of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks and a “shark” on ABC’s Shark Tank, has joined ZenBusiness as what it calls “a passionate advocate and spokesperson to accelerate the company’s transformation into a trusted and beloved brand for entrepreneurs.”

“Known worldwide as one of the sharpest minds in business, Cuban will work with ZenBusiness to turn the brand into a household name synonymous with entrepreneurial success,” ZenBusiness says.

Cuban tells CultureMap he is a ZenBusiness shareholder, but he declines to provide details about his stake in the company.

The announcement of Cuban’s new role with ZenBusiness coincides with that news that the company just scooped up $200 million in venture capital. With that money in the bank, ZenBusiness is now a “unicorn” valued at $1.7 billion. Unicorns are startups valued at $1 billion or more.

To date, ZenBusiness has raised $274.5 million in venture capital.

“As a serial entrepreneur, I understand the challenges that come with launching and running your own business,” Cuban says in a ZenBusiness news release. “But business owners don’t have to do it alone. They can have an expert every step of the way to guide them on their journey towards business success.”

“ZenBusiness is that personal business coach, helping hundreds of thousands of entrepreneurs get their businesses off the ground,” Cuban adds. “I am proud to be an advisor to this inspirational team and serve as a brand advocate, representing the future of entrepreneurism in the U.S.”

Austin Innoreports Cuban inked a two-year deal with ZenBusiness to be its spokesman.

“We sat down and we said, ‘Gosh, who would be the best spokesperson we could think of?’” says Ross Buhrdorf, founder and CEO of ZenBusiness. “And the team came up with Mark Cuban. I reached out to Mark in my network, and we had some conversations. He loves the product and is sold on it, and he’s using it with his companies, and that’s where it started and ended. It’s just that simple.”

ZenBusiness says its platform currently helps more than 200,000 U.S. entrepreneurs, including gig workers, real estate investors, artists, and freelancers. Among other things, ZenBusiness’ tools assist entrepreneurs with setting up legal structures for their businesses and with creating an online presence.

“ZenBusiness has revolutionized the process of launching and running a successful business,” says Buhrdorf, who started the company in 2017. “We handle the ‘business stuff’ so our customers can focus on their passion and build the life they want, stress-free and without sacrificing their well-being.”

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SKIN IN THE GAME

Renowned Hill Country tattoo artist inks new sacred geometry app

Photo courtesy of Dillon Forte

Dillion Forte at his "tattoo ranch" in the Texas Hill Country.

In the world of tattooing, there may seem to be few better rat traps left to build, but Dillon Forte aims to change that. In October, the renowned Wimberley-based tattoo artist and entrepreneur introduced a new iPadOS app to bring ancient symbology into the digital age.

Forte has made a worldwide name for his black dot work (a contemporary take on stick-and-poke techniques) and ambitious undertakings like tattooing underwater and opening a “tattoo ranch.” His ink appears on Usher, Chris Hemsworth, and Kehlani.

Still, he is most recognized for his sacred geometry designs, using patterns to convey various meanings. His interest led him to create the Sacred Geometry Drawing App, a convenient way for novices and experts to develop and export their creations.

The app grew out of his own practice. Over the past decade, he has used tablets and freehand techniques to achieve his highly symmetrical artwork but grew to realize existing tools were not always easy to use.

“The app is an attempt and fulfillment of my desire to make sacred geometry accessible and bring the ability to create into the fingertips of as many people as possible,” Forte tells CultureMap via email, adding a tagline: “symmetry made simply.”

He says he wished the app was available when developing his signature style as a tattoo artist, but it was designed with a broad range of users in mind. He hopes that designers, educators, and artists will find a use for it.

A short intro to the app's capabilities is available on YouTube. It looks like a standard drawing app, starting with a blank canvas and some tools like pens, pencils, colors, and of course, straight line and dot makers.

A "symmetry index" anchors the functionality and expands it to something between 2D art and 3D modeling. In addition to generating shapes like repeating patterns and spirals, the app also creates 3D shapes with grids, so that the artist can map their design in real space or even create sculptures. There is also an index for explaining the spiritual meaning of some standard designs.

“Geometry often prompts an intimidating feeling when it comes to making art,” Forte continues. “The fundamentally complex and often academic nature of math-based art can induce a sense of fear in the potential user instead of creating a sense of awe. The purpose of the sacred geometry app is to cultivate the latter."

Creatives interested in constructing their own geometric masterpieces can download the app at the App Store for free, and in-app purchases are available.

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